PLTA is a peer reviewed international journal and is one of only six journals dedicated exclusively to language testing and assessment. PLTA is available exclusively online. The current issue and back issues are available at the ALTAANZ website or via the links below:

PLTA offers an opportunity for both new and experienced researchers to publish original research papers, commentaries or reviews of tests or books on language testing and assessment issues. It is published annually or biannually. Enquiries can be directed to plta.editor@gmail.com. The Book Review Editor is Kellie Frost, University of Melbourne.

Correspondence on editorial matters should be addressed to the Editors, Sally O'Hagan and Lyn May via email to plta.editor@gmail.com.

Prior to 2012, PLTA was published by the Language Testing Research Centre at the University of Melbourne under the name, Melbourne Papers in Language Testing. For the full catalogue of back issues of Melbourne Papers in Language Testing follow the link below:

Knoch, U. (2017). Research in the news - Research in second language assessment. Language Teaching 50 (1)

Knoch, U., McNamara, T., Elder, C. (2017). Submission to the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection on the discussion paper ‘Strengthening the test for the Australian citizenship’. Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre

Fan, J. (2016). How to improve stakeholders’ language assessment literacy - The case of the Language Testing Centre at Fudan University. The Way of Language: Learning, Assessment, and Culture, 7, 48-51

Fan, J. (2016). The construct and predictive validity of a self-assessment scale.Papers in Language Testing and Assessment, 5(2), 69-100

Knoch, U., Fairbairn, J., Huisman, A. (2016). An evaluation of an online rater training program for the speaking and writing sub-test of the Aptis. Papers in Language Testing and Assessment, Vol 5,1, pp 90-106

Knoch, U. and Macqueen, S. (2016) Language Assessment in the workplace. In Tsagari, D and Banerjee, J. (Eds). Handbook of Second Language Assessment. De Gruyter Mouton

Macqueen, S., S. O’Hagan and B. Hughes (2016). Negotiating the boundary between achievement and proficiency: An evaluation of the exit standard of an academic English pathway program. Papers in Language Testing and Assessment 5 (1), 107-123

Knoch, U. "At the intersection of language assessment and academic advising: Communicating results of a large-scale diagnostic academic English writing assessment to students and stakeholders," in Papers in Language Testing and Assessment, 1, 2012, pp. 31-49

Knoch, U. "Expanding the notion of task in writing assessment: Towards a comprehensive research agenda," in Byrnes, H. and Manchón, R. M. (eds.,). Task-based L2 learning: Insights from and for L2 Writing. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 2012

O’Hagan, S. and Frost, K. (2017, March). Assessing the English speaking skills of classroom teachers: Investigating the construct of a domain-specific variant of a general proficiency test American Applied Linguistics Association (AAAL) conference. Portland, USA

O’Hagan, S. and Frost, K. (2017, November). Assessing the English speaking skills of classroom teachers: Perspectives of test takers and teacher educators on the relevance of a domain-specific variant of a general proficiency test. Joint conference of ALANZ/ALAA/ALTAANZ, Auckland, New Zealand

Fan, J. (2016, April). The construct and predicative validity of a self-assessment scale. Paper presented at the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL). Orlando, Florida, the United States.

Fan, J. (2016, May). Building a validity argument for a university-based English test: Evidence from construct and predictive validity. Paper presented at the Third Asian Association for Language Assessment (AALA) conference. Bali, Indonesia

Fan, J. (2016). Factor structure and factorial invariance of a university-based English test: A longitudinal study. ALTAANZ, 2016: Auckland, New Zealand, November 18 and 19

Knoch, U. (2016). Measuring L2 writing development: implications for research and pedagogy. Invited plenary presentation at the conference of the Association for Language Testing and Assessment of Australia and New Zealand (ALTAANZ). Auckland, New Zealand, November 2016

Knoch, U., Macqueen, S., May, L., Pill, J. and Storch, N. (2015). Transitioning from university to the workplace: Stakeholder perceptions of academic and professional writing demands for engineers. Invited talk at the Department of Defence – Air Operations Division. Melbourne

2014

Frost, K. (2014, November 21). Building a validation argument for the Occupation English Test (OET): Investigating test taker processes on the listening subtest. ACER/LTRC Symposium, Melbourne

Macqueen, S. Elder, C, Pill, J. and Knoch, U. (2014, November 21). In the real world: Perceptions of the relationship between the Occupational English Test and the workplace. ACER/LTRC Symposium, Melbourne. ACER/LTRC Symposium, Melbourne

O’Hagan, S., Frost, K., Knoch, U. (2014, November 21). Scoping study of professional to professional communication in healthcare: an exploration of interaction and task types in inter- and intra- professional spoken communication. ACER/LTRC Symposium, Melbourne

McNamara, T. and Pill, J. (2014, April 25-29). Reforming the criteria used to assess the spoken English clinical communication skills of international medical graduates. Paper presented at 16th Ottawa Conference, Ottawa, Canada

Frost, K., Elder, C., and Pill, J. (2014, June 4-6). Marching out of step: Task-based language competencies for military purposes and a general proficiency scale. Paper presented at Language Testing Research Colloquium, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Knoch, U. and Elder, C. (2014, June 4-6). Tensions between general language frameworks and language-specific achievements: the case of Asian languages in Australia. Paper presented at Language Testing Research Colloquium, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Woodward-Kron, R., Elder, C., and Pill, J. (2014, June 19-21). Patient-centred communication in an English language screening test for health professionals: Locating clinical engagement and interaction in candidate performance. The Language of Medicine: Science, Practice and Academia - An International Conference, Bergamo, Italy

2013

Knoch, U. (2013, December 11). The development and validation of the Academic English Screening Test (AEST). Invited talk at the University of Technology Sydney

Elder, C. and Knoch, U. (2013, November 27-29). Post-entry English language assessments in the university context: How diagnostic are they? Paper presented at ALANZ/ALAA Conference, Wellington, New Zealand

Knoch, U., Rouhshad, A. and Storch, N. (2013, November 27-29). What happens to ESL students’ writing after three years of study at an English medium university? Paper presented at ALANZ/ALAA Conference, Wellington, New Zealand

Clerehan, R. and Elder, C. (2013, July 11-13). Medical terms in patients’ words. Paper presented at the Communication, Medicine and Ethics Conference, University of Melbourne, Australia

McNamara, T., O'Hagan, S., and Pill, J. (2013, July 11-13). Extending the scope of speaking assessment criteria in a specific-purpose language test for migrating health professionals. Paper presented at the Communication, Medicine and Ethics Conference, University of Melbourne, Australia

Pill, J. (2013, July 11-13). An exploratory model of what doctors value in the doctor-patient consultation. Paper presented at the Communication, Medicine and Ethics Conference, University of Melbourne, Australia.

Pill, J. (2013, June 24-27). What doctors value in the doctor-patient consultation: An exploratory model. Paper presented at the Australia and New Zealand Association of Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Annual Conference, Melbourne

Knoch, U. and Elder, C. (2013, June 7). A framework for evaluating post-entry language assessments. Paper presented at the AALL Symposium ‘Degrees of proficiency: Building a strategic approach to university students’ English language assessment and development’, University of Sydney, Sydney

Ginther, A. and Elder, C. (2013, May 23-26). The use and interpretation of English proficiency test scores in the graduate admissions process. Paper presented at the conference of the European Association of Language Testing and Assessment, Istanbul, Turkey

Pill, J., O’Hagan, S., Zhang, Y. and Elder, C. (2013, May 23-26). Evaluating the impact of applying indigenous assessment criteria in an LSP test. Paper presented at the conference of the European Association of Language Testing and Assessment, Istanbul, Turkey

Frost, K. (2013, March 16-19). Language testing and immigration in the Australian context: Test impact from the perspective of migrants. Paper presented at AAAL, Dallas, Texas

2012

Elder, C., Fraser, C. and Ginther, A. "The use and interpretation of English proficiency test scores in the graduate admissions process." Paper presented at the ALTAANZ conference, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, November 9-10, 2012

Knoch, U. and Elder, C. "A new model for universal post-entry language assessment." Paper presented at the AALL Symposium 'Assessment and development of students' English language proficiency: What is your institution doing?' University of Sydney, Australia, May 25, 2012

Knoch, U., Penry Williams, C., McGregor, A. and Fraser, C. "Getting the level right: Validating an online placement procedure for University students of French." Paper presented at the ALTAANZ conference, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, November 9-10, 2012

Macqueen, S. and Knoch, U. "Lexis and lexicogrammatical patterns across task types and proficiency levels in TOEFL iBT writing." Paper presented at the ALTAANZ conference, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, November 9-10, 2012

Pill, J. "Interrogating criteria for assessing speaking performance on the Australian OET" (presentation) and Exploring language skills through Australian examiners’ feedback on doctor-patient interaction (poster). Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. (TESOL) 46th International Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, March 28-31, 2012

Pill, J. "Medical educators 'feedback on trainees' interaction with patients: perspectives on "language"." Paper presented at the 2nd International Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice (ALAPP) conference, University of Technology, Sydney, December 6 -8, 2012

Pill, J. and O'Hagan, S. "Extending the scope of speaking assessment criteria in a specific-purpose language test." Paper presented at the ALTAANZ conference, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, November 9-10, 2012

2011

Knoch, U., Hamp-Lyons, L., Storch, N., Phakiti, A., Bitchener, J., East, M. and Basturkmen, H. "New directions in the assessment of writing." Symposium at Joint Conference of the Australian Association of Applied Linguistics and the Association of Applied Linguistics of New Zealand, Canberra, Australia, December 2011

Knoch, U. "Fluency in writing: the reader's perspective." Paper presented at the Joint Conference of the Australian Association of Applied Linguistics and the Association of Applied Linguistics of New Zealand, Canberra, Australia, December 2011b

Elder, C. "How can language tests contribute to developing context-sensitive descriptions of school achievement in Asian languages? The case of SAALE." Paper presented at invited colloquium: Assessing Language Development Joint Conference of the Australian Association of Applied Linguistics and the Association of Applied Linguistics of New Zealand, Canberra, Australia, December 2011c

Pill, J. and Harding, L. "Defining the language assessment literacy "gap": a case study." Paper presented at the ALAA 36th Congress, University of Canberra and the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, November/December 2011

Elder, C. "Meeting the English language needs of students entering higher education: what role for assessment?" Paper presented at the Symposium on English Language Proficiency, University of Queensland, Australia, November 2011b

Elder, C. "Post-entry English language assessment in Australian universities: issues and prospects." Paper presented at the Australian International Education Conference, Adelaide, Australia, October 2011a

O'Hagan, S. R. "Variability in assessor responses to English NS and NNS undergraduate essays: an issue for assessment quality in higher education?" Invited presentation at the Seminar Series of Key Researchers in TESOL, University of Sydney, Australia, February 2011

Czajkowski, M. and Knoch, U. (2016). LOTE Public Service Language Aide Test: Test specifications and tasks. Report to the National Accreditation Authority for Interpreters and Translators (NAATI). Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre

Czajkowski, M. and Knoch, U. (2016). LOTE Public Service Language Aide Test: Test development report. Report to the National Accreditation Authority for Interpreters and Translators (NAATI). Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre

Czajkowski, M - NAATI report

Elder, C, Knoch, U, and Kim, H. (2016). Preliminary LOTE proficiency screening of candidates seeking accreditation as interpreters and translators: A feasibility study. Final Report to the National Accreditation Authority for Interpreters and Translators. 35pp. Language Testing Research Centre, University of Melbourne

Elder, C, Knoch, U, and Kim, H. (2016). Preparing for the NAATI examinations: options and issues for English proficiency screening. Final Report to the National Accreditation Authority for Interpreters and Translators. 68pp. Language Testing Research Centre, University of Melbourne

Elder, C. and Knoch, U. (2016). Determining and monitoring the language proficiency standards of applicants seeing NAATI accreditation. Final report to the National Accreditation Authority for Interpreters and Translators (NAATI). Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre, University of Melbourne. 33pp.

Frost, K. (2015). Report on the Development, trialling and equating of a new version (R09) of the DELA/DELNA reading test. Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre, The University of Melbourne

Frost, K., O’Hagan, S., Knoch, U., Pill, J. (2015). Verification of checklist items across professions: an investigation of the relevance of new criteria for assessing simulated professional-patient interactions in the OET Speaking sub-test. Final report. Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre, The University of Melbourne

Knoch, U., Fairbank, J. and Huisman, A. (2015). An evaluation of the effectiveness of training Aptis raters online. Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre, The University of Melbourne

Macqueen, S. and Knoch, U. (2015). Program evaluation of EAL online pilot program. Final Report to DET. Melbourne: University of Melbourne

O’Hagan, S., Macqueen, S. and Chandran, R. (2015) Development of AEAS Test Materials for Years 10-12: Reading Version 6, Vocabulary Version 6, Listening Version 8. Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre, The University of Melbourne

O’Hagan, S., Macqueen, S. and Chandran, R. (2015) Development of AEAS Test Materials for Years 7-9: Reading Version 2, Vocabulary Version 2, Listening Version 4. Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre, The University of Melbourne

2014

Macqueen, S., O’Hagan, S., Chandran, R., Grieve A. (August 2014). Report on the development of new AEAS test materials for Years 4-6. University of Melbourne etc. pp1-45

Macqueen, S. and Knoch, U. (2014). Program evaluation of EAL online pilot program. Interim Report to the DEECD. Melbourne: The University of Melbourne

Knoch, U., Macqueen, S., and O’Hagan, S. (2014). An investigation of the effect of task type on the discourse produced by students at various score levels in the TOEFL iBT®Writing test (TOEFL iBT Report No. 23, ETS Research Report No. RR-14-43). Princeton, NJ:Educational Testing Service. doi:10.1002/ets2.12038

Ginther, A. and Elder, C. (2014) A comparative investigation into understandings and uses of TOEFL iBT, IELTS (Academic) and the Pearson Test of English in U.S. and Australia: a case study of two university contexts. Final Report (CEO-RFP 2009-33). 91 pp.

Knoch, U. (2014). Discourse analysis of AITI translation texts. Final report prepared for the Australian Institute of Translation and Interpreting. Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre, University of Melbourne.

Knoch, U. and Huisman, A. (2014). Review of the British Council Aptis rater training for new markers. Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre, University of Melbourne

Knoch, U. and O’Hagan, S. (2014). Pilot administration of the Post-entry Assessment of Academic Language (PAAL) at the University of Melbourne. Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre, University of Melbourne

Knoch, U. and O’Hagan, S. (2014). Report on the trial implementation of the Post-entry Assessment of Academic Language (PAAL). Melbourne: University of Melbourne

Knoch, U. and Elder, C. Report on Feasibility study of introducing the Academic English Screening Test (AEST) at The University of Melbourne. Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre, 2012

Knoch, U., O'Hagan, S. and Kim, H. Preparing the Academic English Screening Test (AEST) for computer delivery. Language Testing Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, 2012

Knoch, U., Maqueen, S. and O'Hagan, S. An investigation of the effect of task type on the discourse produced by students at various score levels in the TOEFL iBT writing test. Draft final report submitted March 2011. Melbourne: The University of Melbourne, 2012

2011

Knoch, U., Macqueen, S. and O'Hagan, S. An investigation of the effect of task type on the discourse produced by students at various score levels in the TOEFL iBT writing test. (Draft final report). Melbourne: Language Testing Research Centre, October 2011

Submissions

LTRC submission to Department of Immigration and Border Protection discussion paper ‘Strengthening the test for Australian Citizenship’

The LTRC has made a submission to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in response to the discussion paper entitled ‘Strengthening the test for Australian citizenship’. We comment on two areas in this submission, (1) the proposed introduction of a separate upfront English language test and (2) the proposed changes to the Australian citizenship test.